MLL Legend Millon Picked First in Supplemental Draft

With the first overall pick in Wednesday's Major League Lacrosse
supplemental draft, the Rochester Rattlers plucked National
Lacrosse Hall of Famer Mark Millon from retirement and the former
MLL star said he's planning a comeback to the league.

Millon, 41, was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2009 after a
stellar playing career with the Bayhawks, Boston Cannons and Long
Island Lizards. He retired in 2007 as MLL's all-time leading
scorer, a two-time league offensive player of the year (2002 and
'03) and co-MVP in 2005.

He was one the league's pioneers — one of 40 players to
take part in the MLL's Summer Showcase barnstorming tour in 2000,
which pre-dated the league's inaugural 2001 season. Millon played
that year for the then-Baltimore Bayhawks. He played in four
straight MLL championship games with the organization.

"He's doing it for the right reasons," said Soudan, who played
with Millon in college at UMass and with the U.S. men's national
team. "He's not chasing the dream or some scoring record. He wants
to help the team out. I can't wait to see how it turns out. He's
always been a guy that stays in really good shape. If we get 75
percent of what Mark Millon was 10 years ago, we win. You can't
purchase the type of high-end experience and leadership he
has."

Soudan said there were only a handful of teams Millon was
considering playing for. Rochester, Boston and Long Island were
among them. And this wasn't a plan that had been in the works for a
while. Soudan just learned earlier this week that Millon had signed
up for the MLL's player pool, and checked with him to see if a
comeback effort was for real. Soudan again connected with Millon on
Tuesday night to see what other teams may have been contacting him.
Then the Rattlers kicked off Wednesday's draft with the stunning
pick.

Millon will join a Rattlers attack that includes Kevin Leveille,
Ned Crotty, Billy Bitter and Steven Boyle, although Soudan said
Crotty and Bitter could both run midfield. Rochester protected Mike
Leveille as well this offseason but his playing status remains
undetermined, Soudan said. He did not play last season.

"What our team really needs, on top of a lot of talent, is guys
that have experience, are leaders and have been around while,"
Soudan said. "In talking with him, he said, 'I don't have the
expectation of being a scoring leader,' but he feels like he can
play with guys in this league. He's also got a couple young sons
who have never seen him play at this level. They were all unselfish
reasons. He'll be a leader."

Before his MLL career, Millon was a member of the 1994 and 1998
U.S. men's national teams on which he won All-World and tournament
MVP in 1994 and All-World and best attackmen in 1998, helping the
U.S. to two world titles. Millon was USCLA Player of the Year
(1994, 1995, 1998) during his playing time for Long Island Lacrosse
Club and Mt. Washington Club.

Chesapeake later traded defenseman Chris Schiller to the
Charlotte Hounds for their seventh-round pick in the 2014
Collegiate Draft. The Lizards also made a draft day trade,
acquiring veteran Boston defenseman Jack Reid for a sixth-round
draft choice in 2014.